11 permits · verified 2026-09-28
What permits do you need to open a restaurant in Limestone County Al?
In short
A restaurant in Limestone County Al, AL has 4 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 7 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services charges $200 one-time filing for the certificate of formation (llc). 5 of the 11 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-09-28 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a restaurant in Limestone County Al
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcoholic Beverage License (state ABC Board; Limestone County is Dry, Athens is Wet)only if it applies to you | Limestone County Commission | No fee | not applicable at the county level | 2026-09-28 |
| Limestone County Board of Health Food Service Establishment Permit | Limestone County Board of Health / Limestone County Health Department | The Limestone County Board of Health has its own local-act authority to annually fix a schedule of fees covering the actual or partial cost of food-service permits, inspections and related services, subject to Limestone County Commission approval, and to promulgate its own rules and regulations, including indigent fee waivers (Ala. Code §45-42-171). This is real, distinct local fee- and rule-setting authority, not a plain state field office with no local say. The specific current dollar figure charged for a Limestone County food-service establishment permit is not published on the Limestone County Health Department's own pages or on any other Limestone-specific public source located during this research. | annual | 2026-09-28 |
| Food Establishment Permit | Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Milk and Lodging | $50–$650 a year, set by the county health department, not by the state | annual — expiring when the privilege licenses expire, or on a date the health officer sets | 2026-09-03 |
| Certified Food Protection Manageronly if it applies to you | Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Milk and Lodging | No fee | 5 years for a certification; 12 months for attendance without certification | 2026-09-03 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
Local permits that apply to every type of business in Limestone County Al
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone County General Privilege/Business License | Limestone County License Commissioner (Joseph Cannon) | Varies — formula on the Limestone County Al page | annual; licenses expire September 30, renewal required in October, penalties and interest apply after November 1 | 2026-09-28 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
AL registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State and County Business Privilege Licenseonly if it applies to you | Alabama Department of Revenue, Business and License Tax Division | Varies — formula on the AL page | annual — 1 October to 30 September, delinquent 1 November | 2026-09-03 |
| Certificate of Formation (LLC)only if it applies to you | Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services | $200 one-time filing | perpetual — Alabama abolished the annual report in 2024 | 2026-09-03 |
| Certificate of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services | $200 one-time filing | perpetual — Alabama abolished the annual report in 2024 | 2026-09-03 |
| Corporation Annual Report (abolished)only if it applies to you | Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services | No fee | not applicable — the filing no longer exists | 2026-09-03 |
| Business Privilege Taxonly if it applies to you | Alabama Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax Division | Varies — formula on the AL page | annual — due when the matching federal return is due | 2026-09-03 |
| Sales Tax License | Alabama Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax Division | No fee | annual — renew online between 1 November and 31 December | 2026-09-03 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
How much does it actually cost to permit a restaurant in Limestone County Al?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 11 records listed for a restaurant in Limestone County Al, AL, 4 apply to every business of this type and 7 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
5 of the 11 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 4 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
Limestone County Board of Health Food Service Establishment Permit: The Limestone County Board of Health has its own local-act authority to annually fix a schedule of fees covering the actual or partial cost of food-service permits, inspections and related services, subject to Limestone County Commission approval, and to promulgate its own rules and regulations, including indigent fee waivers (Ala. Code §45-42-171). This is real, distinct local fee- and rule-setting authority, not a plain state field office with no local say. The specific current dollar figure charged for a Limestone County food-service establishment permit is not published on the Limestone County Health Department's own pages or on any other Limestone-specific public source located during this research.
Food Establishment Permit: $50–$650 a year, set by the county health department, not by the state
The other 3 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Limestone County Al permits page and the AL state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Limestone County Al?
Permits for a restaurant in Limestone County Al, AL come from 7 separate offices: Limestone County License Commissioner (Joseph Cannon), Limestone County Commission, Limestone County Board of Health / Limestone County Health Department, Alabama Department of Revenue, Business and License Tax Division, Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services, Alabama Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax Division, Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Milk and Lodging. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Limestone County License Commissioner (Joseph Cannon)Issues 1 permit on this page: Limestone County General Privilege/Business LicenseClinton St. Courthouse Annex, 100 S. Clinton St. Suite B, Athens, AL 35611 · 256-233-6430www.limestonecounty-al.gov/Departments/License-Commissioner
- Limestone County CommissionIssues 1 permit on this page: Alcoholic Beverage License (state ABC Board; Limestone County is Dry, Athens is Wet)www.limestonecounty-al.gov/Doing-Business
- Limestone County Board of Health / Limestone County Health DepartmentIssues 1 permit on this page: Limestone County Board of Health Food Service Establishment Permit20371 Clyde Mabry Drive, Athens, AL 35611 · 256-232-3200www.alabamapublichealth.gov/limestone
- Alabama Department of Revenue, Business and License Tax DivisionIssues 1 permit on this page: State and County Business Privilege License2545 Taylor Road, Montgomery, AL 36117 · (334) 353-7827www.revenue.alabama.gov/business-license
- Alabama Secretary of State, Business ServicesIssues 3 permits on this page: Certificate of Formation (LLC), Certificate of Incorporation, Corporation Annual Report (abolished)770 Washington Avenue, Suite 580, Montgomery, AL 36104 · (334) 242-5324www.sos.alabama.gov/business-entities
- Alabama Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax DivisionIssues 2 permits on this page: Business Privilege Tax, Sales Tax LicensePO Box 327710, Montgomery, AL 36132-7710 · (334) 242-1490www.revenue.alabama.gov/sales-use/business-tax-online-registration-system
- Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Milk and LodgingIssues 2 permits on this page: Food Establishment Permit, Certified Food Protection Manager201 Monroe Street, Suite 1250, Montgomery, AL 36104 · (334) 206-5373www.alabamapublichealth.gov/foodsafety/food-and-lodging.html
What does a restaurant need in Limestone County Al that other businesses do not?
Certified Food Protection Manager
No state fee, because Alabama neither examines nor registers anyone — the certificate comes from an accredited private programme at that programme's price. Two limits define who actually needs it. It applies only to priority category 3 and 4 establishments, broadly those handling raw animal foods, cooking to reduce pathogens, or cooling and reheating, plus anyone operating under a variance or a food safety plan; categories 1 and 2 and temporary establishments are exempt. And within those categories it is a hard requirement rather than one option among several, because Alabama expressly declines to adopt the two federal food code paragraphs that would otherwise let a person in charge demonstrate knowledge by other means. Since 2020 a certified or attendance-verified person in charge must be present during all hours of operation. There is no statewide food handler card — the phrase appears nowhere in the rules — though Jefferson and Mobile counties each issue one locally.
Shared with other businesses in Limestone County Al
- Alcoholic Beverage License (state ABC Board; Limestone County is Dry, Athens is Wet) — Limestone County Commission, No fee, not applicable at the county level. Also required for coffee shops and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the coffee shops page.
- Limestone County Board of Health Food Service Establishment Permit — Limestone County Board of Health / Limestone County Health Department, The Limestone County Board of Health has its own local-act authority to annually fix a schedule of fees covering the actual or partial cost of food-service permits, inspections and related services, subject to Limestone County Commission approval, and to promulgate its own rules and regulations, including indigent fee waivers (Ala. Code §45-42-171). This is real, distinct local fee- and rule-setting authority, not a plain state field office with no local say. The specific current dollar figure charged for a Limestone County food-service establishment permit is not published on the Limestone County Health Department's own pages or on any other Limestone-specific public source located during this research., annual. Also required for coffee shops, food trucks and childcare centres; what it involves is set out on the childcare centres page.
- Food Establishment Permit — Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Food, Milk and Lodging, $50–$650 a year, set by the county health department, not by the state, annual — expiring when the privilege licenses expire, or on a date the health officer sets. Also required for coffee shops and food trucks; what it involves is set out on the food trucks page.
The other 1 local permit in the tables apply to every type of business in Limestone County Al, AL; what each one involves is set out on the Limestone County Al permits page. The 6 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across AL and are covered on the AL state page.
How does a restaurant compare with other businesses in Limestone County Al?
A restaurant and a coffee shop in Limestone County Al, AL need exactly the same 4 permits beyond the ones every business needs.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a restaurant | Only a restaurant needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Food trucks | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Childcare centres | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Retail stores | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Auto repair shops | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Contractors and trades | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Fitness studios | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Salons and barbers | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Veterinary clinics | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Sources
Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the coffee shops page, childcare centres page and food trucks page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Limestone County Al permits page and the AL state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- Alabama Administrative Code chapter 420-3-22 — food establishment sanitation, permits issued by the county health officerAlabama Department of Public Health · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.